[Please note that the views presented by individual contributors are not necessarily representative of the views of ATCA, which is neutral. ATCA conducts collective Socratic dialogue on global opportunities and threats.]

• Vast destruction zone spans the United States -- from North Carolina on the east-coast to as far west as Michigan -- and then beyond into Canada;

• Death toll has crossed 50, including 18 in New York;

• US President has declared "major disaster" in New Jersey and New York;

• 8.5 million households in 17 states are without power;

• 3 nuclear power reactors shut down because of electricity issues according to the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission (NRC);

• 4th nuclear plant -- Oyster Creek in New Jersey -- remains in "alert" mode because of high water levels in its water intake structure according to NRC;

• Initial estimates of broad economic losses range from $20 billion to $50 billion -- which is less than 0.1% of US GDP -- although these numbers could go sharply higher in days ahead;

• Every coastal state has experienced flooding;

• Inland flooding has grown as rain -- and snow in some cases -- continued to fall over much of the eastern United States and parts of Canada;

• The United Nations is concerned that flooding could lead to a sharp rise in cholera cases;

• Heavy snowfall accumulation threatened to prolong power outages and make movement difficult in West Virginia and in western North Carolina and Virginia;

• New York City faces a city-wide paralysis of historic proportions:

a. Subway is flooded and it will take 4-5 days at least to return online and it may take even longer before the entire system is working;
b. 80 homes burned down in coastal Queens;
c. Power may not return to lower Manhattan until the end of the weekend;
d. Seven tunnels under the East river are flooded;
e. Commuter rail is out;
f. Many key airports remain closed;
g. Bus services are partial; and
h. Schools remain closed.

• Aid workers are worried about a food crisis in Haiti, where the super storm caused 52 deaths last week; and

• Death toll is touching 70 as a result of the super storm across the Caribbean..

Super Storm Sandy’s Fierce Assault

[STOPS]

What are your thoughts, observations and views? We are hosting an Expert roundtable on this issue at ATCA 24/7 on Yammer.

[ENDS]

Expert Roundtables

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